bacterial vaginosis

noun

: vaginitis that is marked by a grayish vaginal discharge usually of foul odor and that is associated with the presence of excessive amounts of some bacteria (especially Gardnerella vaginalis)

called also nonspecific vaginitis

Examples of bacterial vaginosis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

However, both experts noted there is some evidence to show the strain has potential benefits in bacterial vaginosis, helping reduce the risk of recurrence when used alongside conventional antibiotic treatment. —Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025

Unfortunately, that’s the reality for many people with bacterial vaginosis (BV). —Korin Miller, SELF, 20 Oct. 2025

How to treat bacterial vaginosis BV is usually treated with antibiotics. —Tanyel Mustafa, Refinery29, 7 Aug. 2025

Discharge that develops because of bacterial vaginosis can have the following characteristics:89 Thin Watery Gray Green Have a fishy odor Bacterial vaginosis discharge is not typically white. —Angelica Bottaro, Verywell Health, 2 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1983, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for bacterial vaginosis

• agranulocytosis
• antituberculosis
• arteriosclerosis
• neurofibromatosis
• acanthosis
• acidosis
• alkalosis
• amaurosis
• ankylosis
• asbestosis
• brucellosis
• cyanosis

Medical Definition

bacterial vaginosis

noun

bacterial vag·​i·​no·​sis -ˌvaj-ə-ˈnō-səs 

: vaginitis that is marked by a grayish vaginal discharge usually of foul odor and that is associated with the presence of a bacterium especially of the genus Gardnerella (G. vaginalis synonym Haemophilus vaginalis)

—abbreviation BV

called also nonspecific vaginitis